Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-12-29
THE STATE.
THE STATE GRANGE.


the committee on credentials, appointing
standing committees etc. In the evening
Worthy Master Gov Luce delivered his
annual address. After few Dreli minary
remarks he reported the work done at the
national grange, explaining the proposed
amendments TO the constitution, etc. The
work of the state lecturer and assistants
was commended and the workings Of the
Pomona grange praised as productive of
much good TO the order In speaking or
the contest system the Cover nor said That
SO Ear as the grange Is concerned this had
its origin in Michigan, and he expressed
the opinion that no one thing has contrib
uted so many new members and stimu-
Ia ted old ones as this.
one of the chief Things demanding CON
sideration at this time Is revision or the
patent laws. The most fragrant wrongs
are committed through the provisions
Authorizing the collection or royalties
from innocent purchasers OF patented
articles The innocent buyer should be
released from royalty obligations because
when the manufacturer OF patented ar
ticie pays for an invention 1T Is done not
only for the purpose of manufacturing,
but for sale and use. The inventor hav-
ing once parted with his right 1t should
convey full title.
attempt to repeal or SO amend the oleo-
margarine law during the present session
o. congress that the protection now
afforded dairy interests would be wiped
out. Efforts to Illustrate this attempt
were urged upon the grange. The master
thought our national revenue laws should
and must be revised so that less money will
be collected from the people. We musGlook
out that in this revision the rights and
interests of agriculture are not forgotten.
On the afternoon OF the l4th resolution
presented by G. G.. McDermid OF Calhoun
county, stating that the Grange approved
of the present local option law as the best
temperance legislation available, and
pledging the delegates best EFFORTS TO Sc
cure practical prohibition of the liquor
traffic in their localities, was adopted.
resolution announcing that tho Grange
favored the discussion OF the science or
government III the subordinate oranges
was also adopted. Senator Thomas Mars,
chairman of the executive committee, III
his annual report spoke OF the leading
issues of the political parties as bearing
On protective tariff, and he advised the
members to study both sides or the ques-
ton that they might know which side was
for their best interest. Jason Woodman,
state lecturer, read his report, in which he
eulogiZed the Michigan press lie has de-
livered seventy-two lectures during the
past year. Petitions relative TO the use OF
Intoxicating drinks, the establishment or a
national children's holiday, the Oleomar-
garine law, and resolutions relative 70 the
tax of grange halls, TO the Office Of school
superintendent, purchase or plaster, DOR
mant oranges, rates ofpostage and protec
ton OF property from excessive taxation
were introduced. The report OF the secre-
tary and treasurer shows the receipts
from fees and dues during the past year to
be 81, $50. &, and the expenditures 80, 3Oi.O0,
leaving a balance over expenditures or
s526.9O The amount in the treasury at the
first of the year was So lSj.26 and the re-
sources now S5T1l.16. The fees and dues
in excess of last year were Sl47.50. There
have been six new subordinate and two
county oranges established during the
year and number OF dormant oranges
have been revived. There is Sl,0T2
in the defense fund for the purpose
Of fighting illegal patent rights.
When the Grange assembled on the 10Th
INST, decided surprise was occasioned
by the resignation of Gov. Luce as Worthy
Master of the order The letter OF res
ignatlon is as follows:
WoRTaY PATRONs-For the removed
expressions of confidence received
at the hands of the State Grange am
profoundly grateful. For seven years
have labored faithfully TO execute the COM
mission placed in my hands; have learned
to prize highly the acquaintance formed
at the sessions Of this body; have enjoyed
the hospitality of many of you around
your own hearth stones; but accumulated
duties developing upon mo compel, IN
Justice to the grange as we'll as to myself,
resignation of the Office of Master OF the
Michigan State Grange. And now, for
feiting no lot or title OF faith in or hope
for the order place back in the hands of
the authority that issued 1t, tue commis-
sion held so long And henceforth only
ask to be allowed to work as a private In
the ranks.
Fraternally yours,
&. u. LUCE.
The Grange accepted the resignation,
ana extended unanimous vote OF thanks
to the retiring Master. In the afternoon
ex-State Senator Thomas Mars or Berrlen
Springs, was elected as the Governors
successor, having 81 votes out OF the liz
east on the first ballot. The other candi-
dates we're Overseer John Holbrook and
j, II. Partridge. Worthy Master Mars
has been o member OF the executive COM
mittee forseveral years, and is thoroughly
familiar with the needs OF the organiza-
ton.
The committee on legislation advised u
reduction of letter postage and the Qboli-
ton of postal cards, and asked congress
to admit sugar free or duty from all those
countries levying no export duties on the
same In the report OF the committee on
dormant oranges 1t was recommended
that the state lecturer cooperate with the
local or county lecturers In visiting dor
mant oranges and their members with u
view Of reviving those oranges; that the
rounty oranges meet il possible with each
local grange in its jurisdiction each year !;
that what is known as the contest plan be
rOntinued. and that so far as possible the
officers of subordinate oranges keep them.
selves posted on all market reports and
current topics of the day.
j. f. Partridge of Genesee, Ernest L..
Hnrt of Allegan, and judged. y. Ramsdell
have been elected members OF the execu-
tive committee.
The annual session ended on the evening
of the 10th. The report OF the committee
on legislation as adopted Endorses the
present oleomargarine law, the inter
state commerce law, tho present mortgage
tax law, and favors reduction or passen-
ger rates from three to two cents per mile.
The committee on patent laws recommend
ed that the laws be so changed as TO pro-
tect the innocent purchasers OF patent
rights from the payment or royalty. The
c6mmittee on transportation also submit-
Sed report, urging the farmers to act ad-
yisedly in the transportation laws. The
eommittee on education recommended
that the compulsory education law be in
vesticated, and, IL found detective, reme-
died. and that the law be enforced in the
s,ntrons' different localities; that the leg
tslature should devise plans for the uni
formitv of textbooks and that the State
should either publish or make arrange
ments for the purchasing of such books;
and that a committee of five prominent
state educators be selected TO compile or
select such books. These reports were
also adopted.
The executive committee were author
fed to arrange with Detroit commission
houses to handle their products. "A reso